Lecture 17 Flashcards
What are the characteristics of Serratia marcescens?
Gram-negative, Motile, rod-shaped bacterium, Facultative anaerobe, Optimal growth temperature: 30-37°C
Some strains produce a red pigment, which is insoluble in water and produced more strongly at lower temperatures under aerobic conditions
Oxidase-negative, Catalase-positive
Ferments lactose and glucose
What is the pathogenicity of Serratia marcescens?
Can cause infections such as Urinary tract infections, Pneumonia, Eye infections
Particularly in hospitalized patients with weakened immune systems or those undergoing antibiotic treatment
What is the significance of the red pigment prodigiosin produced by Serratia marcescens?
Prodigiosin is linked to genotoxic effects.
It can induce mutations in Salmonella Typhimurium and cause chromosomal damage in mammalian erythroblasts.
This pigment may contribute to the bacterium’s ability to cause disease or increase its resistance to treatments.
